Reviews by TMoney2591:

I remember really enjoying this stuff during my birthday's visit to a trade show last year, so expectations are high to begin with this time. Full disclosure, I guess. This stuff pours a deep, dark sienna topped by a finger of tan-cream foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, light blackened pretzel, dry pine resin, and a touch of straight booze tossed in for good measure. The taste brings in more of the same, softening the resin, getting rid of the booze entirely, and adding a faint hint of hickory smoke. Nice. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a very nice black IPA, one that lived up to my pleasant memories in every way save the smell (which, to be fair, was probably getting pretty weak by the time I got to this one last year...).

A - Pours very deep brown with less than one finger of tan head. Head fades quickly to a collar and leaves spotty lacing.

S - Initial aroma is a big blast of citrus, both juicy citrus pulp and bitter citrus zest. Orange and grapefruit are both prominent. The malt profile is heavy with chocolate, both bittersweet and a faint amount of milk chocolate, along with roasted malts. Very nice.

T - Malts and hops appear simultaneously in the taste, which is a nice blend of the same components found in the aroma. There is a nice bitter hop presence, but it melds very well with the malt profile. Not sure which hops are used in this, but they seem to be well suited for a Black Ale, bitter, but blending very well with the chocolate and roasted malts.

A- This beer pours a jet black body with a oatmeal tan bubbly head that last a good bit and trails of bubbles that glide up the surface.

S- The tropical fruit and bubble gum esters lead into a faint smoky hint of roasted black malt that is overtaken by woody green hops in the finish.

T- The bubblegum, double bubble flavor blends with green herbal hops in the finish and a soft roasted black malt note comes through in the aftertaste. There is a cola note that grows as the beer opens up.

M- The medium mouthfeel has no alcohol heat and a gentle fizz compliments the hops.

O- This beer has full yeasty ester flavors with the hops being much softer. It is a nice beer but not much of a session beer at 8.5 % abv.

This beer may perhaps be the definition of what's referred to as "cola" as far as the color: very dark brown with lighter brown highlights and just a touch of red visible. A creamy tan head grows to almost 2 fingers and recedes fairly slowly, dropping a combination of rings, legs and patches of lacing.On the nose, I get an initial burst of raw pine and a tinge of alcohol. Delving deeper, there's a touch of mint, something like spruce, and a bit of roast. Rind pulls out a bit with the bitterness and some leaf finishes it out.As for the flavor, at first sip it's an even level between roast and pine with some unexpected toffee-like sweetness and a bit of wood. The mint comes out again and there's the ghost of char just coming out in the finish. A touch of cocoa and coffee grounds are drawn from the roasted malts while the hops remain at an even level, adding an herbal element.The body is medium with an evenly crisp and smooth feel to it. Carbonation is light and keeps it lively without overdoing it.

Taste: Very strong — lots of sweetness from the malts melding with a bitter citrus hops presence. In fact, it’s so cloying it’s actually boozy. There are also detectable notes of dark fruit and leather, even some peat, which goes way against this one being a “black IPA”. But that’s splitting hairs. This is a bold and boozy brew (at 8.5%) and not one I’d care to revisit.

My bro-in-law is awesome!!! He set me up with b-Craft Black from Arcadia...and it is amazing!!! The beer poured a opaque black with thin ecru head that is lacing. The smell contains a piny roast that could be more bold if I am to compare to SSRA from Stone. The taste is more of the same of the smell. It starts off roasty then finishes bitter. The mouthfeel is very nice, full bodied and creamy with smooth carbonation. Overall it is a good beer....the 8.5% will cause everyone pause....and may be a one and done.

Appearance - Pours a dark brown, not quite black body with only a touch of a head. The faintest of collars around a translucent edge at the surface.

Smell - Some musty pine hops, but it isn't hop dominant. The hops are well balanced by a chocolate and caramel malt.

Taste - Pine hops throughout, which is nice. The chocolate is consistent with just a hint of sweetness shining through. It gets more bitter throughout without ever getting heavy on the malts.

Mouthfeel - Like a light, overhopped RIS. Never too sweet. Never too bitter. Nicely balanced without being a hop bomb of a black IPA.

Overall - I usually like hoppier black IPAs, but this is quite nice. There is a strange aftertaste that is there and gone in an instant. So brief I can't really identify it, so I won't peg it back for it.

T: Follows the nose, much dryness & a bit of boooze bite up front. Some pineyness & figs as this warms, more dryness, some leafy hops too, a touch of raisin. Finishes dry, fruitty & with woody hops, just a bit of orange peel

MF: Fairly thick, low carbonation, okay balance

Seems more like an English Barleywine to me, not bad, just not hop-centric enough to please me